Monday, August 20, 2007 Rant Archive
Time to take a knee folks and regroup for the next big swing in the best season of BIG BROTHER ever.
This was a placeholder episode. With such tumult and drama last week with the unforeseen ouster of Dustin, everyone seemed to need a breather so not much happened tonight. Even Jameka and Amber weren’t much interested in stirring things up with their betrayer, America’s Player Eric. He blew up the last big alliance and destroyed their immediate prospects in this game and they never even raised their voices. This, if nothing else proves how easily they were coasting under Dustin’s wing. They are adrift.
But that’s okay. After the big turn-around in power it will take a few days for the numbers to sort themselves out. Right now things look good for the Dick/Daniele and Eric/Jessica alliance. But this is clearly a short term deal no matter how many times they might promise to take each other to the final four. After this week, the loose players will need to pick sides because this group of four will not insulate itself from outside influence or suspicion. Sooner rather than later it will occur to Dick or Daniele or Eric that they are better off taking out the other strong duo in the house. I don’t believe Jessica thinks much about these things.
After this week’s eviction (I’m going to guess Amber goes because Jameka can’t win HOH and is therefore less of a threat) that will leave Zach, Jameka and my darling Jen as the loosely or completely unaligned. They will realize quickly that they have tremendous power in this situation even of they are outside of the powerful alliance. Yes, this will even occur to my obtuse object of desire Jen. Her empty head can hold a lot of stuff and this is almost perfectly sized to fit in the vastness between her ears.
Who is the real Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretch?) is he the hotshot NTAC agent we have all come to know and love? Or is he really one of those from the future who have orchestrated the whole 4400 plan? On tonight’s episode of THE 4400, we may have gotten a further glimpse into exactly what that plan is all about.
Tonight’s show opened with Tom awakening from a dream where he was performing some type of procedure on Richard (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali). But, were we watching events as they unfolded, or was this dream some type of residue left over from the events that left Tom with “the mark?” considering that the season is beginning to wind down, I believe we are starting to get some answers as to who these powerful people from the future are, and what their agenda really is. The bigger question may be, is the woman who mysteriously appeared in Richard’s kitchen really his dearly departed Lilly (Laura Allen) or just another apparition sent to further along the future’s plans?
I have to say, I am one of those TV viewers that demands some answers to the plaguing questions of the storylines in my favorite shows. That’s one of the best things about THE 4400. While the show provides me with mystery and intrigue that always leaves me wanting more, the writers are very good about leaving us with a trail of bread crumbs to follow that will lead us down the path of resolution. And, bringing Richard’s family back to him in tact and at their rightful chronological age was one of the most satisfying moments of this show. That being said, I still have a nagging suspicion that there is more than meets the eye to this warm and fuzzy family portrait.
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Family trouble abounds in tonight’s episode of BIG LOVE. When Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) finds out her estranged mother is about to remarry, she reaches out to her but gets the cold shoulder. Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) has her slimy brother to contend with, and Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) is contemplating the idea of surrogacy.
It appears that Bill (Bill Paxton) has started to lose control of his family. His eldest son is beginning to experiment in the polygamist lifestyle for himself, by dating twin sisters from Juniper Creek. His daughter is dealing with a cheating boyfriend, and his first wife, Barb, is thinking about how harmful the life she’s chosen is for her and her children. Marriage is hard enough; God only knows why somebody would want to deal with all that pressure times three. Kids, in-laws and shady business deals, Bill has really bitten off more than he can chew, if you ask me. But, it’s a little odd to me that Bill went from being such a patient, loving man, to a demanding and controlling male chauvinist.
Maybe it’s the fact that he can tell how much Barb is questioning the choices she’s made for her family, that seems to have put Bill on edge. Of course, he still has the Greenes to contend with, and those people are crazy psychopaths. Then there’s his constant battle for power with Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton), which always has him on his toes. Whatever it is, Bill just doesn’t seem like his happy go lucky polygamist self these days. One has to wonder how he’ll deal with the fact that his second wife, Nicki, has become a bingo addict, or that Barb wants to get their children out of the house and away from the pluralist lifestyle. At least he can still count on his besotted third wife, Margene, to worship and adore him.
SUPERBAD probably caught more than a few people by surprise. Producer Judd Apatow just released his own KNOCKED UP a few months ago, and I assumed that EVAN ALMIGHTY and HOT ROD would carry comedy through the waning summer onslaught. Wrong on both counts. But luckily, this teenage comedy penned by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg hit screens this weekend and somehow managed to top RUSH HOUR 3. In a year of half-baked blockbuster sequels grossing nearly ten figures, I’m ecstatic to see a worthy film eek out the victory. SUPERBAD is a hilarious and realistic look at the struggles of the adolescent as college looms in the future. AMERICAN GRAFFITI this is not, but with time I think we can place it alongside FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH as that type of infinitely rewatchable comedy that reminds us in some way of ourselves at that uncertain age. Apatow continues to attach himself to really special projects. His films have a charm that comes from a talented bevy of actors and drama-centered scripts. They’re good movies that happen to be piss-yourself funny.
Jonah Hill as Seth and Michael Cera as Evan are welcome revisions to the High School Geek. Perhaps courtesy of their characters sharing names with the writers? Two best friends nearing the ends of their high school careers, and different colleges lined up for the future, they make an AMERICAN PIE-style pact to cash in their V-cards before matriculating elsewhere. SUPERBAD is essentially documenting the obstacles and travails that Seth and Evan encounter on their mission to live the dream. Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fogel, however, might be the iconic role in the film. Mostly because we have all had the displeasure of knowing a Fogel. Choosing “McLovin” as his alias on a fake ID, Fogel is a whiny poser and social outcast. A hanger-on to the relatively cooler Seth and Evan, Fogel’s contribution to the film is really a sight to behold. Where Hill and Cera nail the frustration that color many a high schooler’s struggle for beer, popularity, and – ultimately – girls, Mintz-Plasse amazes with a lack of self awareness that makes Fogel’s trajectory from unknown loser to legendary McLovin seem strangely deserved. And don’t we all know that one nerd with the most outrageous glory stories?
What’s even better than playing in a band? How about playing in a band that actually has fans?
That’s what FOTC (that’s what true fans call the boys) has, as a gig in a world music festival nets a pair of groupies. The girls are ready for some hottt threesome action, but not the way Bret and Jemaine envision.
But such is the life of rockers, which is what the boys are quickly becoming. Why, they even try some beer (it makes Bret go to the toilet) and do some drugs with the new groupies (even though they cut the hit of acid into 1/16ths).
All of this cavorting with the new fans has psycho stalker/groupie Mel just a wee bit jealous, especially after she cooks dinner … for the five of them.
Here’s a crazy twist on the latest episode of ENTOURAGE: Everyone makes a big deal out of a pending crisis, everyone makes frantic phone calls to each other, and in the end, nothing really gets done. In this case, that moron writer Billy turns in a script nothing like what he was paid for, and everyone freaks out completely. Really, why is anyone paying this guy? Vince seems to be the only one who likes his work, and everything he does is a hassle.
Seriously, I have a hard time believing movie people would put up with his crap. I mean, I’m no Hollywood insider, but aren’t there about 200 people dying to write a script that is actually what a studio wants? I would call Billy in the office (if he’s not in seclusion) and tell him to take a walk and don’t stop until he’s writing infomercials in Sacramento.
But sadly, it’s not my decision. So we had to sit through another half-hour of Ari scrambling around and Vince not sweating it. And of course everything worked out in the end – even though they’re still working with a crappy script and nobody likes each other. It just boggles my mind how much energy these guys can spend – well, everyone except Vince – while getting absolutely nothing done. At least Vince has come to his sense enough to understand this, and he just sits back and lets everything (not) happen.